Electrical pop out device

ABSTRACT

An electrical pop out device has a shroud and an outlet housing. The outlet housing is sized to be placed inside the shroud. A guidance mechanism connects the outlet housing with the shroud. The guidance mechanism includes multiple rack gears and multiple pinion gears. The outlet housing is moveable with respect to the shroud along a direction defined by the rack gear. A spring connector electrically couples the shroud to the outlet housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/913,956 filed Oct. 28, 2010, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electrical wall socket and, moreparticularly, to an electrical pop out device that is capable of beinginstalled flush with a wall and then extending from the wall to exposeelectrical outlets along a multitude of different surfaces.

BACKGROUND

An electrical socket is the female portion of an electrical connectorthat accepts and delivers electrical current to the prongs of insertedplugs. Electrical sockets are well known in the art. Existing electricalsockets are generally known to be attached to a wall or other similarstructure in a semi-permanent manner.

The attached electrical socket, generally having multiple outlets, istypically installed in a manner that allows the outlets to besubstantially flush with the wall or other structure. There are severalproblems associated with the electrical wall sockets having outletsflush with the wall. First, only a limited number of outlets can bearranged along any single surface. Second, many current plugs areequipped with surge protectors or adapter converters, which increase theoverall size of the plug and cause the oversized plug to overlapadditional outlets to render the overlapped outlets unusable.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electrical wall socket.

SUMMARY

An electrical pop out device has an enclosure and an outlet housingsized to be placed inside the enclosure. A guidance mechanism connectsthe outlet housing with the enclosure and allows movement of the outlethousing, with respect to the enclosure, between a compressed positionand in an expanded position. The guidance mechanism includes multiplerack and pinion gear sets. Movement of the outlet housing is restrictedto a direction defined by the rack gears.

A spring connector electrically couples the enclosure to the outlethousing. The spring connector has a first end connected with theenclosure and a second end connected with the outlet housing. The firstend of the spring connector is perpendicular to the second end of thespring connector. The spring connector is compressible and expandablealong two perpendicular directions.

The electrical pop out device includes an electrical connector forattaching the electrical pop out device to an electrical circuit. Theelectrical connector may be coupled to the enclosure and connected withthe spring connector.

The outlet housing includes at least one pair of outlets placed aboutthe outlet housing, such that access to each of the pair of outlets isprovided from different directions.

The electrical pop out device may include a push-push latch operativelyconnected with the enclosure and the outlet housing.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical pop out device with anoutlet housing being in a compressed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 1with an outlet housing being in an expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an enclosure of the electrical pop outdevice of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of the enclosure of the electrical popout device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a exploded view of the enclosure of the electrical pop outdevice of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outlet housing extending from ashroud of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the outlet housing, sub-plate, and shroud;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the outlet housing having aplurality of guide rollers of a guidance mechanism attached thereto;

FIG. 9 is a section view of the electrical pop out device taken alongline 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shroud with racks and guide rollersof the guidance mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shroud with racks and guide rollersof the guidance mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an electrical pop out device of FIG. 2 withthe outlet housing being in an expanded position;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a set of contacts located within theoutlet housing;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the set of contacts;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a spring connector;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 1 witha faceplate;

FIG. 18 is a section view of the electrical pop out device taken alongline 18-18 of FIG. 17, the outlet housing being in the compressedposition;

FIG. 19 is a section view of the electrical pop out device taken alongline 18-18 of FIG. 17, the outlet housing being in the expandedposition; and

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of an electrical pop out device according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a rear exploded prospective view of an electrical pop outdevice having a guidance mechanism according to another embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 21-22.

FIG. 24 is a partial cutaway view of the electrical pop out device takenalong line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a front exploded prospective view of an electrical pop outdevice having a guidance mechanism according to another embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a front view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a section view of the electrical pop out device taken alongline 27-27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a rear exploded prospective view of an electrical pop outdevice having a guidance mechanism according to another embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a front exploded prospective view of the electrical pop outdevice of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a side view of the electrical pop out device of FIG. 28-29.

FIG. 31 is a section view of the electrical pop out device taken alongline 31-31 of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a side partial cutaway view of the electrical pop out devicehaving a guidance mechanism according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 & 2, an electrical pop out device 10 includes anenclosure 12 and an outlet housing 14. The enclosure 12 is connectedwith the outlet housing 14 by a guidance mechanism 16. The guidancemechanism 16 allows movement of the outlet housing 14, with respect tothe enclosure 12, between a compressed position 18, located within theenclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and an expanded position 20,extending from the enclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the enclosure 12 includes a sub-plate 24 and ashroud 26. The shroud 26 is sized to fit within a single gang or wallbox 22. The wall box 22 is a standard single wall box defining anopening 28, wall box channels 30 along a top 32 and a bottom 34 of thewall box 22, and openings 36 for electrical wires (not shown forclarity). The sub-plate 24 defines a central cutout 38, two wall boxholes 40, and a plurality of shroud holes 42. The shroud 26 is a boxstructure that defines an opening 44 and a plurality of shroud channels46. With specific reference to FIG. 5, the wall box channels 30 of thewall box 22 align with the wall box holes 40 and are capable ofreceiving a screw 48 therethrough to couple the sub-plate 24 to the wallbox 22. The plurality of shroud holes 42 align with the plurality ofshroud channels 46 about the shroud 26 and are capable of receiving aset of screws 50 therethrough to couple the shroud 26 to the sub-plate24.

Referring to FIG. 6, the guidance mechanism 16 couples the outlethousing 14 to the shroud 26. Referring to FIG. 7, the sub-plate 24retains the guidance mechanism 16 within the shroud 26, and the outlethousing 14 within the enclosure 12. Referring to FIG. 8, the guidancemechanism 16 includes a plurality of guide rollers 52 rotatably attachedto the outlet housing 14. As shown, one embodiment includes four (4)rollers and three of the guide rollers 52 include pinion gears 54.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, each pinion gear 54 mates with a rack gear 56disposed on the shroud 26 to form a rack and pinion gear set 58. Atleast two of the rack and pinion gear sets 58 are diametrically opposedand at least two of the rack and pinion gear sets 58 are orthogonallyarranged about the outlet housing 14. Each rack gear 56 extends from theopening 44 of the shroud 26 straight back into the shroud 26 to define asingle direction and restricts movement of the outlet housing 14 toalong the single direction. Specifically, the movement of the outlethousing 14 is restricted to in and out of the shroud 26 and is notpermitted to moved up, down, or sideways with respect to the shroud.

The rack and pinion gear sets 58 are arranged about the outlet housing14 to counteract a load applied to any of the sides of the outlethousing 14. The diametrically opposed rack and pinion gear sets 58 actto maintain the outlet housing 14 in top to bottom alignment. Theorthogonally arranged rack and pinion gear sets 58 act to maintain theoutlet housing 14 in top to bottom alignment and in side to sidealignment.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the outlet housing 14 is cube shaped andincludes a front face 60 and four side faces 62. With additionalreference to FIG. 2, the outlet housing 14 includes a plurality ofoutlets 64 placed on at least two of the side faces 62.

In one embodiment, the outlet housing 14 includes three (3) outlets 64that are arranged about different side faces 62 to provide access toeach of the plurality of outlets 64 from a different direction.Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, there are three (3) contacts locatedwithin the outlet housing 14. The three (3) contacts include a groundcontact 66, a hot contact 68, and a neutral contact 70. Each contact 66,68, and 70 is a shaped, electrically conductive structure that isconnected with each of the outlets 64.

Referring to FIGS. 16-19, the electrical pop out device 10 includes aplurality of spring connectors 72. In one embodiment, the electrical popout device 10 includes three (3) spring connectors 72, one (1) springconnector 72 connected with each of the contacts 66, 68, and 70. Thespring connectors 72 function as both a mechanical means for ejectingthe outlet housing 14 from within the shroud 26 and as electricalconductors to the contacts 66, 68, and 70. With specific reference toFIG. 16, each spring connector 72 includes a first end portion 74terminating in a first end 76 and a second end portion 78 terminating ina second end 80. The first end portion 74 is substantially perpendicularto the second end portion 78. The first end 76 is connected with theenclosure 12 and the second end 80 is connected with one of the contacts66, 68, or 70 of the outlet housing 14. The spring connectors 72electrically couple the enclosure 12 to the contacts 66, 68, and 70 ofthe outlet housing 14 by conducting an electrical current from the firstend portion 74 to the second end portion 78.

The spring connector 72 includes a first leg 81 connected with the firstend portion 74 by a first bend 82. The first leg 81 is able to rotate,with respect to the first end portion 74, about the first bend 82 toform a first zone of expansion and compression 84, which defines a firstmode of deflection 85.

The first leg 81 is connected with a second leg 88 by a second bend 90.The second leg 88 is able to rotate about the second bend 90 to define asecond mode of deflection 86.

The second leg 88 is connected with a third leg 94 by a third bend 96.The third leg 94 and the second end portion 78 are connected through asecond zone of expansion and compression 98 that includes the third leg94, a fourth bend 100, a fourth leg 102, a fifth bend 104, a fifth leg106, a sixth bend 108, and the second end portion 78. The second zone ofexpansion and compression 98 defines a third mode of deflection 110. Thefirst zone of expansion and compression 84 is substantiallyperpendicular to the second zone of expansion and compression 98.

In one embodiment, the spring connector 72 is fabricated from aberyllium copper strip. However, it is contemplated that the springconnector 72 may be fabricated from another material that possess bothconductive and elastically deformable qualities that are subject to goodcycling.

With specific reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, the electrical pop outdevice 10 includes an electrical connector 112 for attaching theelectrical pop out device 10 to the electrical wires (not shown forclarity). In the embodiment, the electrical connector 112 is coupled tothe shroud 26 of the enclosure 12 and is connected with the springconnector 72.

The electrical pop out device 10 includes a push-push latch 114operatively connected with the enclosure 12 and the outlet housing 14.The push-push latch 114 includes a latch pin portion 116 and a latch pinreceptacle portion 118.

In the embodiment, the latch pin portion 116 is attached to the outlethousing 14 and points back into the enclosure 12 from the rear of theoutlet housing 14. The latch pin receptacle portion 118 is attached tothe enclosure 12 and opens toward the latch pin portion 116. The latchpin portion 116 and the latch pin receptacle portion 118 are aligned, sothat when the outlet housing 14 is in the compressed position 18, asshown in FIG. 18, the latch pin portion 116 is within the latch pinreceptacle portion 118.

With specific reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, when the electrical pop outdevice 10 is not being utilized, such that the outlet housing 14 is inthe compressed position, the front face 60 is substantially flush withan outer surface of a wall. An optional faceplate 120 may then beinstalled over the electrical pop out device 10 and the outer surface ofthe wall.

Referring back to FIGS. 18-19, the spring connector 72 is in an initialpreloaded state to maintain the outlet housing 14 in the expandedposition 20. To operate, a force ‘F’, as shown in FIG. 19, is applied tothe front face 60 of the outlet housing 14 to move the outlet housing 14from the expanded position 20 to the compressed position 18, whichtranslates the outlet housing 14 into the enclosure 12, as shown in FIG.18. The force ‘F’ must be greater than the spring force of the springconnector 72. The movement of the outlet housing 14 to the compressedposition 18 causes the spring connector 72 to be compressed and toelastically deform along the three modes of deflection 85, 86, and 110.

During the first mode of deflection 85, the first leg 81 is rotatedabout the first bend 82 and the second bend 90 is forced to moveproximally toward the first end 76. As a result, the second leg 88 andthe second zone of expansion and compression 98 are also movedproximally with respect to the first end 76. During the second mode ofdeflection 86, the second leg 88 is rotated about the second bend 90,which causes the second zone of expansion and compression 98 to be movedproximally further with respect to the first end 76. During the thirdmode of deflection 110, the third leg 94 is rotated about the third bend96 and the second zone of expansion and compression 98 is compressedcausing the second end 80 to be moved proximally further with respect tothe first end 76.

Once the outlet housing 14 is pushed into the compressed position 18,the push-push latch 114 removably retains the outlet housing 14 withinthe enclosure 12. The latch pin receptacle portion 118 is movable from afirst position, when the outlet housing 14 is in the expanded position20, to a second position, when the outlet housing 14 is in thecompressed position 18. While in the first position, the latch pinportion 116 is free to move into the latch pin receptacle portion 118.While in the second position, the latch pin portion 116 is removablycaptured within the latch pin receptacle portion 118 and is preventedfrom moving with respect to the latch pin receptacle portion 118.Another application of the force ‘F’ opens the latch pin receptacleportion 118 and allows the latch pin portion 116 to be removed fromwithin the latch pin receptacle portion 118, as the outlet housing 14 isextended from the enclosure 12 by the force of the spring connector 72.

Another embodiment of an electrical pop out device 210 is shown in FIG.20, wherein similar components are numbered similarly to like componentsshown in FIGS. 1-19, except as noted. An outlet housing 214 has multipleoutlets 264 located on side faces 262. The electrical pop out device 210includes tamper resistant shutters 326, as, for example, manufacturedand sold by Pass and Seymour in Syracuse, N.Y., at each of the outlets264. A connector plate 324 and housing frame 326 retain the contacts 66,68, 70 and the tamper resistant shutters 322 within the outlet housing214.

A guidance mechanism 216 is connected with the outlet housing 214 andallows the outlet housing 214 to move into and out of a shroud 226. Theguidance mechanism 216 is retained within the shroud 226 by a sub-plate224, which may be covered with a faceplate 320. The guidance mechanism216 includes a retention frame 328, guide rollers 252, and pinion gears254. The guide rollers 252 and the pinion gears 254 are connected to theretention frame 328 with pins 330.

Referring to FIGS. 21-24, another embodiment of an electrical pop outdevice 410 is shown. Similar components of the electrical pop out device410 are numbered similarly to like components shown in FIGS. 1-20,except as noted. A guidance mechanism 416 includes a plurality of slides452 located about an outlet housing 414. Each slide 452 is nested withina slot 454 that extends back from an opening 444 of a shroud 426. Theoutlet housing 414 includes a single outlet 464 located on the frontface 460 of the outlet housing 414.

Referring to FIGS. 25-27, another embodiment of an electrical pop outdevice 610 is shown. Similar components of the electrical pop out device610 are numbered similarly to like components shown in FIGS. 1-24,except as noted. An outlet housing 614 includes a pair of slides 674that extend through slots 676 in the shroud 626. Each slot 676 extendsback from the opening 644 of the shroud 626. Each of the slides 674 isconnected with a stop 678 on the shroud 626 by a torsion spring 672.

The outlet housing 614 and the shroud 626 are electrically connected. Aground wire 680 connects the shroud 626 with the outlet housing 614. Theshroud 626 has a pair of L-shaped electrical connectors 682 that extendalong the top 684 of the shroud 626. Each of the L-shaped electricalconnectors 682 is connected to the contacts within the outlet housing614 through a set of brushes 686 that extend upward from the outlethousing 614 and into the L-shaped electrical connectors 682.

Referring to FIGS. 28-31, another embodiment of an electrical pop outdevice 810 is shown. Similar components of the electrical pop out device810 are numbered similarly to like components shown in FIGS. 1-27,except as noted. A guidance mechanism 816 includes at least one slide874 disposed on the outlet housing 814 and at least one guide 875disposed on the shroud 826. The outlet housing 814 and the shroud 826each define at least one slot 876 and 877, respectively. The at leastone slide 874 extends outward from the outlet housing 814 and is sizedand shaped to interact with the at least one slot 877 of the shroud 814.The at least one guide 875 extends inward from the shroud 826 and issized and shaped to interact with the at least one slot 876 defined ofthe outlet housing 814.

It is contemplated that electrical connections and devices other thanthe outlets described above may be incorporated into the electrical popout device. Other electrical connections and devices that may beincorporated include telephone connectors, one or more lights, cableconnectors, Universal Serial Bus (USB), or the like, and any combinationof these or other electrical connections and devices. Still further, apush-push latch may be replaced with another type of latch.Specifically, FIGS. 28-30 illustrate the traditional electrical outletconnection 64, along with a USB port 864 and a telephone connection 865,and

Referring to FIG. 32, another embodiment of an electrical pop out device1010 is shown. Similar components of the electrical pop out device 1010are numbered similarly to like components shown in FIGS. 1-31, except asnoted. A guidance mechanism 1016 includes at least one pair of a firstcross link 1052 and a second cross link 1054 along one side face 1062 ofan outlet housing 614. The first cross link 1052 is pivotally attachedto the shroud 1026 and moveably pinned in a slot 1056 that extends alongthe outlet housing 1014. The second cross link 1054 is pivotallyattached to the outlet housing 1014 and movably pinned in a slot 1058that extends along the shroud 1026.

One major advantage of the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410, 610,810, 1010 is that the outlet housing 14, 214, 614, 814, 1014 can beretracted into the wall to eliminate exposed, unused outlets 64. Thus,the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 610, 810, 1010 can retain theoutlets 64 within the wall and present the outlets 64 to the user onlywhen actuated. The spring connector 72 allows movement of the outlethousing 14 in both an inward and outward direction with respect to theshroud 26, 226, 426, 626, 826, 1010. As a result, the outlets 64 arealso safer.

Another major advantage of the electrical pop out device 10 is that theoutlets 64 are accessed from different directions. As a result, moreoutlets 64 can be located in a given space. Further, plugs withrelatively large plugheads may be used without covering other outlets64, which would render the other outlets 64 unusable.

Another advantage is that the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410,610, 810, 1010 is sufficiently compact and dimensioned to fit andoperate within the standard single wall box 22, which allows it to beretrofit into existing structures. This device will also fit into anystandard multiple gang arrangement. The electrical pop out device 10,210, 410, 610, 810, 1010 is also an option for new construction, sincethe electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410, 610, 810, 1010 does notrequire substantive changes to the building plans.

A further advantage of the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410, 610,810, 1010 is that the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410, 610, 810,1010 is installed substantially flush with the wall to aestheticallyhide the outlets 64, while allowing access to multiple outlets 64 fromdifferent directions when the outlet housing 14, 214, 614, 814, 1014 isin a expanded position.

It is contemplated that the electrical pop out device 10, 210, 410, 610,810, 1010 may include a ground-fault circuit interrupter as commonlyknown in the art.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect toexemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes, omissions, and additions may be madethereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.For example, although as disclosed each rack gear is in contact with asingle pinion gear, multiple pinion gears may be used along each rack todistribute load and to increase durability.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical pop out device comprising: ashroud; an outlet housing being sized to be placed inside the shroud; aguidance mechanism connecting the outlet housing with the shroud, theguidance mechanism being configured to allow movement of the outlethousing with respect to the shroud and to prevent misalignment of theoutlet housing with respect to the shroud during movement of the outlethousing; and a spring connector disposed between the shroud and theoutlet housing, the spring connector being configured to mechanicallyexpel the outlet housing from within the shroud; wherein the guidancemechanism includes multiple rack and pinion gear sets, each rack andpinion gear set having at least one rack gear and at least one piniongear, the outlet housing being moveable with respect to the shroud alonga direction defined by the rack gears; and wherein at least two rack andpinion gear sets are diametrically opposed about the outlet housing. 2.The electric pop out device according to claim 1, wherein the piniongears of each rack and pinion gear set are rotatably attached to theoutlet housing.
 3. The electric pop out device according to claim 2,wherein the guidance mechanism additionally comprises a retention frameattached to the outlet housing; and wherein the pinion gears arerotatably attached to the outlet housing by the retention frame.
 4. Theelectrical pop out device according to claim 1, additionally comprisinga sub-plate that is connectable to the shroud and is adapted to retainthe guidance mechanism within the shroud.
 5. The electrical pop outdevice according to claim 1, wherein the outlet housing includes atleast a pair of outlets placed about the outlet housing to provideaccess to each of the pair of outlets from different directions.
 6. Theelectrical pop out device according to claim 1, wherein the outlethousing includes a single outlet placed on a front face of the outlethousing.
 7. The electrical pop out device according to claim 1, whereinthe guidance mechanism restricts movement of the outlet housing withrespect to the shroud to a single direction.
 8. The electrical pop outdevice according to claim 1, wherein the spring connector has a firstend connected with the shroud and a second end connected with the outlethousing.
 9. The electrical pop out device according to claim 1, furthercomprising an electrical connector coupled to the shroud for attachingthe electrical pop out device to an electrical circuit.
 10. Theelectrical pop out device according to claim 1, further comprising apush-push latch operatively connected with the shroud and the outlethousing.
 11. The electrical pop out device according to claim 1, whereinthe guidance mechanism is configured to counteract a load applied to aside of the outlet housing.
 12. The electrical pop out device accordingto claim 1, further comprising a USB port formed in the outlet housing.13. The electrical pop out device according to claim 1, wherein theshroud is adapted to fit into a single gang box.
 14. The electric popout device according to claim 1, wherein the rack gears of each rack andpinion gear set are disposed on the shroud and extend from an opening inthe shroud straight back into an interior of the shroud.
 15. Anelectrical pop out device comprising: a shroud; an outlet housing beingsized to be placed inside the shroud; a guidance mechanism connectingthe outlet housing with the shroud, the guidance mechanism beingconfigured to allow movement of the outlet housing with respect to theshroud and to prevent misalignment of the outlet housing with respect tothe shroud during movement of the outlet housing; and a spring connectordisposed between the shroud and the outlet housing, the spring connectorbeing configured to mechanically expel the outlet housing from withinthe shroud; wherein the guidance mechanism includes multiple rack andpinion gear sets, each rack and pinion gear set having at least one rackgear and at least one pinion gear, the outlet housing being moveablewith respect to the shroud along a direction defined by the rack gears;and wherein at least two rack and pinion gear sets are orthogonallyarranged about the outlet housing.
 16. The electric pop out deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the pinion gears of each rack and piniongear set are rotatably attached to the outlet housing.
 17. The electricpop out device according to claim 15, wherein the guidance mechanismadditionally comprises a retention frame attached to the outlet housing;and wherein the pinion gears are rotatably attached to the outlethousing by the retention frame.
 18. The electric pop out deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the rack gears of each rack and piniongear set are disposed on the shroud and extend from an opening in theshroud straight back into an interior of the shroud.
 19. An electricalpop out device comprising: a shroud; an outlet housing being sized to beplaced inside the shroud; a guidance mechanism connecting the outlethousing with the shroud, the guidance mechanism being configured toallow movement of the outlet housing with respect to the shroud and toprevent misalignment of the outlet housing with respect to the shroudduring movement of the outlet housing; and a spring connector disposedbetween the shroud and the outlet housing, the spring connector beingconfigured to mechanically expel the outlet housing from within theshroud; wherein the guidance mechanism includes multiple rack and piniongear sets, each rack and pinion gear set having at least one rack gearand at least one pinion gear, the outlet housing being moveable withrespect to the shroud along a direction defined by the rack gears;wherein the pinion gears of each rack and pinion gear set are rotatablyattached to the outlet housing; wherein the guidance mechanismadditionally comprises a retention frame attached to the outlet housing;and wherein the pinion gears are rotatably attached to the outlethousing by the retention frame.
 20. An electrical pop out devicecomprising: a shroud; an outlet housing being sized to be placed insidethe shroud; a guidance mechanism connecting the outlet housing with theshroud, the guidance mechanism being configured to allow movement of theoutlet housing with respect to the shroud and to prevent misalignment ofthe outlet housing with respect to the shroud during movement of theoutlet housing; and a spring connector disposed between the shroud andthe outlet housing, the spring connector being configured tomechanically expel the outlet housing from within the shroud; whereinthe guidance mechanism includes multiple rack and pinion gear sets, eachrack and pinion gear set having at least one rack gear and at least onepinion gear, the outlet housing being moveable with respect to theshroud along a direction defined by the rack gears; and wherein the rackgears of each rack and pinion gear set are disposed on the shroud andextend from an opening in the shroud straight back into an interior ofthe shroud.
 21. The electric pop out device according to claim 20,wherein at least three independent rack gears are arranged on at leastthree mutually orthogonal planes to resist twisting of the outlethousing by a combination of resultant reaction vectors aligned with thegear sets.
 22. An electrical pop out device comprising: a shroud; anoutlet housing being sized to be placed inside the shroud; and aguidance mechanism connecting the outlet housing with the shroud, theguidance mechanism including at least three rack and pinion gear sets,each rack and pinion gear set having at least one rack gear arranged onthe shroud and at least one pinion gear arranged on the outlet housing,the guidance mechanism being configured to allow movement of the outlethousing with respect to the shroud from a position internal to theshroud to a position external to the shroud; wherein the at least threeindependent rack gears are arranged on at least three mutuallyorthogonal planes to resist twisting of the outlet housing by acombination of resultant reaction vectors aligned with the gear sets andto support the outlet housing in the expelled position under externalloads.